Home birth...positive & negative views please!

[Shellywelly1973]

Im pg with dc6.
Dc 1,2&3 were born in hospital. Dc4&5, waterbirths in a birth center. Only used G&A with first 3. I really like the idea of having this,my last baby at home, waterbirth if possible.

There are a few things bothering me. Im worried about space, if the midwifes would be stuck in the same room as me. I have always needed my space.

The other children,only 3at home now so not as busy as it sounds!

I know i have the right to a homebirth but what if there isn't a midwife available on the day?

Just want to know how it was for other people really, oh & I know this sounds daft but what if the house is in a mess when i go into labour,i really Dont want to be thinking about hovering instead of my baby!

Im probably overthinking it all...

I had a homebirth for ds2 and it was lovely. He came on his due date, in four hours, and i felt wonderful afterwards. No issue around midwife cover etc, just had to call my own midwife when labour started. With ds2 (now 14wks) i booked another home delivery, only issue this time was that i kept having periodic calls from 38 wks telling me there would be no cover for the next next 12 hr etc. this felt very negative and not conducive to being fully relaxed and ready, and as a consequence i had an induction at 40+ 11. Labour took approx an hour, fast and furious and out came a 9 lb 1 baby. I stayed in overnight and went home the next day. The homebirth was an easier birth and recovery, but it straight back into the swing of life, and visitors too long and want to hold the baby etc. in the end i was happier with my hospital birth for my third, as it was nice to be waited on a little bit, and have bed rest before back into the madness. It was a lovely bonding time just me and my little son, it would be lovely for you to have that if this is your last baby.

Relaxing homebirth with baby 2 and booked again for baby 3 (due in 6weeks). If you book a pool, midwives are more hands off. I think youre pos overthinking it, where will you be most comfortable?

I had DC2 and 3 at home, both lovely calm, relaxed experiences. I would highly recommend, especially if you have other children at home and don't want to be away from them for long.

Have you checked with your community MW on how they deal with HB in your area? Here there is a special team of community MWs who are on call 24/7 to attend HBs, if the MWs is already attending a HB locally then an on call CMW is called from the neighbouring district, so around here there is almost no chance of there not being a MW available - perhaps it's the same where you are?

In my experience the MWs are very unobtrusive and leave well alone if that's what you want. Since you're in your own home you can go wherever you want whenever you want, you don't need permission, so you could just go to another room easily.

And don't give mess a second thought. The midwives don't care and neither will you when you're in labour!!

Discuss it with your MW, you can always book a home birth knowing you can change your mind on the day and go in.

Best wishes.

Thanks for the replies. I contacted the community midwifes today at my preferred hospital but i didn't get a very positive response. The hospitals policy is not to offer homebirth after 5th baby. As Im in London i will contact another hospital that also covers this area for homebirths.

Thanks again.